John Ruiz tries to get to grips with giant Russian Nikolai Valuev in 2005. Photograph: Martin Rose/Getty Images Sport

Veteran heavyweight contender John Ruiz has signed with Golden Boy Promotions ahead of his title challenge to Britain's David Haye.

Londoner Haye is set to make his first defence of the World Boxing Association belt he won last November from Nikolai Valuev when he faces 38-year-old mandatory challenger Ruiz this spring.

Puerto Rico's Ruiz, who won the same belt in 2001 to become the first Hispanic heavyweight world champion and again in 2004 before losing it to Valuev in 2005, has now signed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy, which also represents Haye in the United States and the Las Vegas-based fighter is looking forward to successful partnership with his new promoter.

"I'm excited to become a member of the Golden Boy Promotions family and know that I have a great future ahead of me," Ruiz said.

"I'm going to continue to make history and break records one fight at a time, starting with David Haye this spring. I know Golden Boy will help get me back to the top of the heavyweight division and to secure my place in the boxing history books."

"John Ruiz is a very skilled and talented heavyweight and we are very excited to add him to our elite stable of fighters," Golden Boy president de la Hoya said. "He has proven time and time again that he has what it takes to battle with the top guys in the division and will continue to do so in 2010 and beyond."

A date and location for the Haye-Ruiz title fight is expected to be announced shortly.